The Hungry Bunny

While many Aucklanders day-trip in Waiheke Island, we spent a couple of nights on the island to really get an in-depth feel. Also, we wanted to hit up Waiheke's wineries, and there was no way we could fit 20-odd cellar doors in just a one-day excursion. And while Waiheke attracts a lot of tourists, it isn't exactly teeming with luxury hotels. There's the one, or two, luxury lodges, but those have constrained capacity and are few and far between. And because we decided on a Waiheke side-trip very late in the day, we were unfortunately left with limited choices for accommodation. Anyhoo, we ended up at Marino Ridge , a "luxury hosted accommodation" which was really a pseudonym for a bed-and-breakfast at a stunningly sleek bungalow, replete with the most spectacular scenery. Marino Ridge is actually the homestead of Peter and Caroline, who honed their trade as a luxury yacht captain and chef in their previous lives. Warm and friendly, they make you feel immedi...

Stonyridge was the last of the winery restaurants we dined at, and also the most undistinctive of them all. The food generally passed muster, but it was lacking that panache Te Motu and Te Whau had in spades. That said, plus points included the beautiful grounds, upbeat and personable service, and the breezy, easy vibe. The best showing was the Beef Carpaccio (NZ$18), streaked with nuggets of baby beets, fresh rucola, parmesan shavings, pinenuts, and a piquant herb-olive oil dressing. Incredibly balanced and harmonious, and I'm sure, in no small part due to the wonderfully fresh ingredients. The Pan-Fried Fish of the Day (NZ$37), a luscious hunk of hapuka, was paired with a lemon, lime & pea risotto. Bright and light flavours, but needed a good mill of fresh pepper for some punch. The Grilled Beef Eye Fillet (NZ$39) draped with chimichurri, and sided by truffle mash and green beans, was lackluster. First off, the grey tinge on the meat was unappetizing, to say t...

Located smack dab on the main thoroughfare of Oneroa town centre, The Oyster Inn is often touted as Waiheke's best and most popular restaurant. While I'd agree that it rustles up really awesome oysters that were some kind of wonderful, we weren't exactly blown away by the rest of the food. It wasn't bad at all, and I had no actual complains about our dinner, but in light of the amazing restaurants at Te Whau and Te Motu , The Oyster Inn pales in its blah-ness. We liked the vibe though, boisterous and convivial due to the restaurant doing a roaring business, with warm attentive service in spite of the frenzied dinner crowd.  The Grilled Market Fish (NZ$35), a flat john dory pan-fried to perfection, was paired with grilled new season asparagus, wilted baby spinach, and a lemon-infused Hollandaise sauce. This was lovely, but forgettable. I think, this needed a little salt, by way of bacon or jamon or some other cured meat, which would have made this 'pop'. ...

Te Motu was our other favourite restaurant on Waiheke Island. Like Te Whau before, The Shed at Te Motu is also annexed to a winery. But unlike Te Whau's more refined approach to New Zealand's Pacific Rim cuisine, The Shed at Te Motu was distinctively heartier, and took some inspiration from Asian flavours. We loved loved loved the lamb, a NZ take on our local mutton dum biryani, which was insanely delicious. The ambience at Te Motu was also more homey, and staffers chat with you like family. Space is limited though, so be sure to make reservations. The Wagyu & Potato-Cheese Pierogi (NZ$18) was lightened by the crisp citrusy notes of the chive-kefir cream and peppery cress, while truffled onions lent a sweet aromatic grounding. A must-try and signature here, the Marino Alpine Lamb Shoulder (NZ$34) was sumptuous and fall-off-the-bone tender. This was complemented by a biryani spiced pilaf rice dotted with raisins, golden shallots, and cashews, while cucumber an...

No visit to Auckland is complete without a jaunt over to Waiheke Island. Just a half-hour ferry journey off the east coast of Auckland, Waiheke is barely a hop and a skip away from the city. Commonly known as NZ's "Island of Wine", there are dozens of wineries crammed into one little island. If you're a wine lover, Waiheke is a cannot-miss. The island may be small, but it's charming, gorgeous all-round, and boasts an easy, breezy, laidback vibe. But, it's also packed with a million things to do and see: there are restaurants galore, beaches a-plenty, and have I mentioned the dozens of wineries?  Te Whau was our first stop on Waiheke Island, and one of the best winery restaurants on Waiheke. The food was classic New Zealand, and featured the freshest of what the surrounding sea and land had to offer. Light, inventive cooking resulting in clean and clear flavours. It's no wonder Te Whau is Waiheke's most awarded restaurant. The curry-dusted Seared...